SC stays oath taking of the new UP Lokayukta

In a fresh twist to the appointment of the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta, the Supreme Court has stayed the oath-taking ceremony of the new ombudsman, Justice (retd.) Virendra Singh, which was to take place on Sunday morning, officials said.

The move comes after the apex court on Saturday heard a petition of Sacchidanand Gupta on the matter.

It fixed January 4 as the next date of hearing on the matter.

In Lucknow, Raj Bhawan officials said in wake of the new development, Governor Ram Naik has cancelled the swearing-in ceremony slated for 10.30 p.m.

This would also mean that incumbent, Justice N.K. Mehrotra, would continue to be the Lokayukta till January 4 now.

Last week, the apex court had itself appointed the new Lokayukta after the UP government failed to do so. Making its displeasure at the delay, the SC had sought five names from the state and had cleared the name of Justice Virendra Singh.

Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court D.Y. Chandrachud had already written to Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur expressing his opinion on the matter and had denying that the name of Singh had been brought to his notice for consideration in a selection panel of which he along with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Leader of Opposition in assembly Swami Prasad Maurya were members.